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Staff radiographer vs x-ray technician

The differences between staff radiographers and x-ray technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a staff radiographer and an x-ray technician. Additionally, a staff radiographer has an average salary of $57,925, which is higher than the $51,642 average annual salary of an x-ray technician.

The top three skills for a staff radiographer include registry, patients and radiology. The most important skills for an x-ray technician are patients, ARRT, and radiologic technologist.

Staff radiographer vs x-ray technician overview

Staff RadiographerX-Ray Technician
Yearly salary$57,925$51,642
Hourly rate$27.85$24.83
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs90,92060,780
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 70%Associate Degree, 62%
Average age4343
Years of experience22

Staff radiographer vs x-ray technician salary

Staff radiographers and x-ray technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Staff RadiographerX-Ray Technician
Average salary$57,925$51,642
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $100,000Between $32,000 And $81,000
Highest paying City-Fresno, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Stability Healthcare
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between staff radiographer and x-ray technician education

There are a few differences between a staff radiographer and an x-ray technician in terms of educational background:

Staff RadiographerX-Ray Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 70%Associate Degree, 62%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianMedical Technician
Most common collegeTexas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University

Staff radiographer vs x-ray technician demographics

Here are the differences between staff radiographers' and x-ray technicians' demographics:

Staff RadiographerX-Ray Technician
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 28.1% Female, 71.9%Male, 40.3% Female, 59.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 73.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 9.3% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage8%10%

Differences between staff radiographer and x-ray technician duties and responsibilities

Staff radiographer example responsibilities.

  • Reason for leaving are to attain MRI employment and more experience.
  • Accomplish surgical studies utilizing a portable c-arm digital fluoroscopic machine under the direction of a physician.
  • Register all patients for radiology exam using meditech and ECW.
  • Train on PACS in both modalities.
  • Perform routine x-rays, mammo's, and dexa's.
  • Work with digital PACS program and train as a super user.
  • Show more

X-ray technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage day-to-day operation of PACS equipment including image archiving.
  • Train personnel in triage, first aid, and CPR.
  • Put patients into rooms, pull charts, and learned EMR as the office transition to electronic records.
  • Input patient information in to the EMR, room patients, assist the doctor in all in office procedures.
  • Provide mobile x-rays and EKG's for nursing homes, state hospital, and patients unable to leave their homes.
  • Produce quality images using c-arm during surgical procedures.
  • Show more

Staff radiographer vs x-ray technician skills

Common staff radiographer skills
  • Registry, 12%
  • Patients, 12%
  • Radiology, 10%
  • Radiation Safety, 9%
  • Fluoroscopy, 6%
  • C-Arm, 6%
Common x-ray technician skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • ARRT, 9%
  • Radiologic Technologist, 6%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Pacs, 3%

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